GOAL DIFFICULTY AND TASK PERFORMANCE: THE MODERATING ROLE OF INTEREST

Abstract

Goal-setting theory posits that a linear relationship regarding goal difficulty and task performance exists. However, evidence from other studies suggest that the goal difficulty-performance relationship is instead curvilinear, with moderately difficult goals leading to the best performance. Research suggests that effort or self-regulatory resources may be key in resolving this debate; to attain difficult goals, individuals may have to either: (1) continue investing limited self-regulatory resources towards the goal or (2) utilize their self-regulatory resources more efficiently. Recent findings by O'Keefe and Linnenbrink-Garcia (2014) suggest that Individual Interest may play an important role in the efficient use of self-regulatory resources and optimizing performance. Therefore, the present study examines the components of Individual Interest (Affect-related Interest; AI, and Value-related Interest; VI) as possible moderators of the goal difficulty-performance relationship. Participants (N = 164) were assigned to either a Moderately Difficult or Difficult Goal condition for an anagram task. Perceived competence, AI scores, VI scores and positive affect of participants were measured. Results show that a three-way interaction exists between AI, VI and goal difficulty on task performance. Theoretical implications regarding findings were discussed in this paper.